Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Jays24]

11 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

Ponce was not signed to be a 6th starter and Okamoto was not signed to be a platoon guy. Both these guys will be mainstays in the rotation and lineup respectively. If you think Okamoto was signed to be a low stakes number 7-8 hitter I have some news for you. As one of the best hitters in the NPB and with the contract that he signed, he's expected to be a key contributor in the middle of the lineup.

So who is Ponce starting ahead of as things stand? Are we running a 6 man rotation?

Okamoto is hard to project because we dont know how his defense will translate to be a full time 3B.  From everything I read, seems like he'll get a bunch of starts at 3B, some at 1B/DH and maybe even the corner OF.  Thats what I meant by a utility/platoon guy.  

[L54]

The lineup is honestly lacking one more legit top 4 bat and lots of these guys have question marks 

George - 36 and just had a dead cat bounce 

Barger - platoon risk, projects as average to 10% better 

Vlad - no worries 

Santa - huge question mark. Could be the legit top 4 bat could hit 220/300/420

Kirk - no worries 

Varsho - would be nice if the breakout sustained 

Okamoto - feels like the teams third best hitter 

Ernie - league average bat with 9 homers

Gimenez - average bat is best case Ontario 

 

So many of these guys derive their value from defense (Kirk, Varsho, Ernie, Gimenez) so while the ZiPS projections look good it still feels like a KC Royals 2015 offense

Now if Tucker is getting 50 sheets a year then I guess it is what it is 

 

 

[L54]

2 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

So who is Ponce starting ahead of as things stand? Are we running a 6 man rotation?

Okamoto is hard to project because we dont know how his defense will translate to be a full time 3B.  From everything I read, seems like he'll get a bunch of starts at 3B, some at 1B/DH and maybe even the corner OF.  Thats what I meant by a utility/platoon guy.  

Ponce over Berrios 

[Jays24]

24 minutes ago, L54 said:

Ponce over Berrios 

Until Berrios is traded, he has about 50 million reasons + a proven track record as to why he'll start over Ponce.  I think its more crazy to assume Berrios is done just because he had a few down months. 

Spring Training will work itself out so we'll see.  Also don't forget about Mr Lauer who was one of the teams best pitchers but just didnt have the right name on the back of his jersey last year.  

[Abomination]

55 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Our offense would be worse if we lose Bo and only replace him with Okamoto.  I hope you can acknowledge losing the best hitter in baseball hurts the team overall.  Thats all im saying.  Obviously im ecstatic for the current state of the team to be able to support a 300M+ payroll.  

A healthy Santander would be equivalent to signing a big bat. All the same, I really want to see us finish this off with Bo or Tucker.

[Jays24]

6 minutes ago, Abomination said:

A healthy Santander would be equivalent to signing a big bat. All the same, I really want to see us finish this off with Bo or Tucker.

For sure... there are many ways to offset losing Bo on our current roster but the overwhelming consensus feels like we need to finish the offseason with one of Bo/Tucker.  Lets hope we will it to fruition.  

[Jays24]

"Sources told ESPN that the Toronto Blue Jays have also made a long-term offer to Tucker, who is one of the best left-handed hitters in the league."

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, L54 said:

The lineup is honestly lacking one more legit top 4 bat and lots of these guys have question marks 

George - 36 and just had a dead cat bounce 

Barger - platoon risk, projects as average to 10% better 

Vlad - no worries 

Santa - huge question mark. Could be the legit top 4 bat could hit 220/300/420

Kirk - no worries 

Varsho - would be nice if the breakout sustained 

Okamoto - feels like the teams third best hitter 

Ernie - league average bat with 9 homers

Gimenez - average bat is best case Ontario 

 

So many of these guys derive their value from defense (Kirk, Varsho, Ernie, Gimenez) so while the ZiPS projections look good it still feels like a KC Royals 2015 offense

Now if Tucker is getting 50 sheets a year then I guess it is what it is 

 

 

Yeah you'd like to see them keep improving the team. I think we might have the highest projections but the Yankees are right there.

The problem is the team is so damn deep that you have to add a pretty significant player at this point to make an improvement over what we've got. This goes for the lineup, rotation and bullpen. Tucker is the easiest and most obvious way to do that.

[Terminator]

26 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

"Sources told ESPN that the Toronto Blue Jays have also made a long-term offer to Tucker, who is one of the best left-handed hitters in the league."

Oh god here we go again

[Vancouverite]

If Mets really did offer 50M per year than I dont see how Tucker can say no. 

I dont Bo is coming back or he would've resigned by now if he was

Im prepared for both to sign elsewhere and if they do I hope the jays can still pick up some guys and hopefully on the cheap

 

Id target some more RP and one guy I think can have a huge impact on this team is Luis Arraez

 

His batting profile would fit admirably with this team and with our positional flexibility I think we can mask his defensive inneficiencies

The jays took it old school last year by going for contact and discipline over the long bomb and it was a successful recipe. Not many guys out there that are better than Luis at putting bat to ball. If hes willing to take a 8M / 1 or contract and accept a platoon role he could be big for this team. 

[L54]

45 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Yeah you'd like to see them keep improving the team. I think we might have the highest projections but the Yankees are right there.

The problem is the team is so damn deep that you have to add a pretty significant player at this point to make an improvement over what we've got. This goes for the lineup, rotation and bullpen. Tucker is the easiest and most obvious way to do that.

I know it sounds crazy to sit here and be like we need to add to the top as they do sit with the highest projections in the AL 

My view is CBA expiring, like 70M off the books next year, one outfielder under contract beyond this year, riding the 2025 high… the time is now. They’ve gone 90% of the way just finish this bitcħ off 

Granted you’re right, team is deep and it’s hard to add anywhere if the player isn’t like a 4 win guy. 

[jaysthebest]

5 minutes ago, Vancouverite said:

If Mets really did offer 50M per year than I dont see how Tucker can say no. 

I dont Bo is coming back or he would've resigned by now if he was

Im prepared for both to sign elsewhere and if they do I hope the jays can still pick up some guys and hopefully on the cheap

 

Id target some more RP and one guy I think can have a huge impact on this team is Luis Arraez

 

His batting profile would fit admirably with this team and with our positional flexibility I think we can mask his defensive inneficiencies

The jays took it old school last year by going for contact and discipline over the long bomb and it was a successful recipe. Not many guys out there that are better than Luis at putting bat to ball. If hes willing to take a 8M / 1 or contract and accept a platoon role he could be big for this team. 

No thank you. Arraez is not a good player.

His defense is horrible and on top of that, his batting is not good enough to justify his fielding. 104 wRC+ for a 1B/DH is terrible. Not to mention his batting has been declining since 2023. 

We have no space for another 1B/DH.

[John_Havok]

18 minutes ago, Vancouverite said:

If Mets really did offer 50M per year than I dont see how Tucker can say no. 

I dont Bo is coming back or he would've resigned by now if he was

Im prepared for both to sign elsewhere and if they do I hope the jays can still pick up some guys and hopefully on the cheap

 

Id target some more RP and one guy I think can have a huge impact on this team is Luis Arraez

 

His batting profile would fit admirably with this team and with our positional flexibility I think we can mask his defensive inneficiencies

The jays took it old school last year by going for contact and discipline over the long bomb and it was a successful recipe. Not many guys out there that are better than Luis at putting bat to ball. If hes willing to take a 8M / 1 or contract and accept a platoon role he could be big for this team. 

I slightly object to the narrative they prioritized contact over power... Santander was hurt pretty much the entire year, Varsho was hurt a lot, and their replacements weren't exactly big HR threats. I don't think the narrative that they prioritize contact overall is true, but just more contact oriented players were playing last year due to the power guys being hurt. Their approach was quite balanced overall. 

That being said, I hope Vlad keeps his playoff vibes going and we see the 40+ HR version of Vlad in 2026. 23 HRs in a full season from a guy with his talent is just absurd. He should be hitting 30 just by falling out of bed. 

 

[Stangstag]

13 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

I slightly object to the narrative they prioritized contact over power... Santander was hurt pretty much the entire year, Varsho was hurt a lot, and their replacements weren't exactly big HR threats. I don't think the narrative that they prioritize contact overall is true, but just more contact oriented players were playing last year due to the power guys being hurt. Their approach was quite balanced overall. 

That being said, I hope Vlad keeps his playoff vibes going and we see the 40+ HR version of Vlad in 2026. 23 HRs in a full season from a guy with his talent is just absurd. He should be hitting 30 just by falling out of bed. 

 

All due respect dude, you have to have blinders on to think the current front office doesn’t value contact as the #1 offensive metric right now

[mphenhef]

1 hour ago, Vancouverite said:

If Mets really did offer 50M per year than I dont see how Tucker can say no. 

I dont Bo is coming back or he would've resigned by now if he was

Im prepared for both to sign elsewhere and if they do I hope the jays can still pick up some guys and hopefully on the cheap

 

Id target some more RP and one guy I think can have a huge impact on this team is Luis Arraez

 

His batting profile would fit admirably with this team and with our positional flexibility I think we can mask his defensive inneficiencies

The jays took it old school last year by going for contact and discipline over the long bomb and it was a successful recipe. Not many guys out there that are better than Luis at putting bat to ball. If hes willing to take a 8M / 1 or contract and accept a platoon role he could be big for this team. 

[max silver]

2 hours ago, Vancouverite said:

If Mets really did offer 50M per year than I dont see how Tucker can say no. 

I dont Bo is coming back or he would've resigned by now if he was

Im prepared for both to sign elsewhere and if they do I hope the jays can still pick up some guys and hopefully on the cheap

 

Id target some more RP and one guy I think can have a huge impact on this team is Luis Arraez

 

His batting profile would fit admirably with this team and with our positional flexibility I think we can mask his defensive inneficiencies

The jays took it old school last year by going for contact and discipline over the long bomb and it was a successful recipe. Not many guys out there that are better than Luis at putting bat to ball. If hes willing to take a 8M / 1 or contract and accept a platoon role he could be big for this team. 

I don't think Arraez would fit the Blue Jays very well at all as there simply isn't an open spot for him in the first place. He's an awful defender at second base, which leaves only first base and DH as remaining spots. First base is filled admirably by Vlad and Okamoto, and DH will likely be filled by Springer, Santander and others. Arraez only combined for 107 wRC+/2.0 FWAR over the last two seasons, and I think the Blue Jays would actually be worse with him on the roster if he were to receive regular playing time over the far more deserving candidates.

[John_Havok]

3 hours ago, Stangstag said:

All due respect dude, you have to have blinders on to think the current front office doesn’t value contact as the #1 offensive metric right now

As a baseline skill to start developing further offensive talent from in the minors, I agree. I don't think it's the premier tool they seek for the major league roster though.

[Jonn]

I don't know why anyone would want to sign with the Mets that organization is a complete dumpster fire. But if someone offers you 50 million a year it would be hard to say no. If that offer is real and he hasn't taken it it would make me think he won't. Like how short is short term. 3 year 150 million. Shorter? Like especially with opt outs or not. Craziness.

[M.E.]

7 hours ago, Jays24 said:

Until Berrios is traded, he has about 50 million reasons + a proven track record as to why he'll start over Ponce.  I think its more crazy to assume Berrios is done just because he had a few down months. 

Spring Training will work itself out so we'll see.  Also don't forget about Mr Lauer who was one of the teams best pitchers but just didnt have the right name on the back of his jersey last year.  

My thoughts are that Bieber starts on the IL and then works his way back. Ponce and Berrios in rotation to start year of JB isn’t traded in advance. If he is Lauer gets starts to begin season. 

[glory]

21 hours ago, L54 said:

The next two FA classes lack any sort of hitter resembling Tucker or even Bichette for that matter 

Jays have a clear outfield need in 27 and beyond 

I would be disappointed if Okamoto was the only bat brought in to replace Bo. Rogers is flush with liquid cash and paying 20M in tax for Tucker should be looked at as a privilege! 

Yeah Passan in his latest article listed the players available via free agency over the next two years, and it’s pretty underwhelming.

“Neither of the next two free agent classes features a hitter as attractive as Tucker, Bichette or Bellinger. The best of next winter: Nico Hoerner, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brandon Lowe, Daulton Varsho, Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki, Trent Grisham, Ha-Seong Kim, J.P. Crawford and Gleyber Torres. The top following the 2027 season: Jeremy Pena, William Contreras, Steven Kwan, Adley Rutschman, Isaac Paredes, Munetaka Murakami, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddie Freeman, who will be 38.”

Rogers appears willing to shoot through the Cohen Tax, and there’s a clear window in 2026 when other teams are not spending, so go for it. As long as the deal is closer to 7 years than 10+.

[Carlos Danger]

17 hours ago, L54 said:

The lineup is honestly lacking one more legit top 4 bat and lots of these guys have question marks 

George - 36 and just had a dead cat bounce 

Barger - platoon risk, projects as average to 10% better 

Vlad - no worries 

Santa - huge question mark. Could be the legit top 4 bat could hit 220/300/420

Kirk - no worries 

Varsho - would be nice if the breakout sustained 

Okamoto - feels like the teams third best hitter 

Ernie - league average bat with 9 homers

Gimenez - average bat is best case Ontario 

 

So many of these guys derive their value from defense (Kirk, Varsho, Ernie, Gimenez) so while the ZiPS projections look good it still feels like a KC Royals 2015 offense

Now if Tucker is getting 50 sheets a year then I guess it is what it is 

 

 

Carlos Danger approves this message.

We need Tucker or at least Bichette back. I have a sinking feeling, we might be disappointed....

[Terminator]

If we don't get Tucker or Bo I say we pivot to Framber.

Put his 3.7 WAR in the rotation over Ponce's 1.6, and it's as big of an improvement as signing Tucker or Bo and it's a fraction of the cost.

Fight me

[Orgfiller]

1 minute ago, Terminator said:

If we don't get Tucker or Bo I say we pivot to Framber.

Put his 3.7 WAR in the rotation over Ponce's 1.6, and it's as big of an improvement as signing Tucker or Bo and it's a fraction of the cost.

Fight me

I'm certain his market is suppressed because he is/is viewed as a headcase. Doubt we'd add someone with such character concerns to the good vibes team they've been trying to continue assembling.

[Terminator]

2 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

I'm certain his market is suppressed because he is/is viewed as a headcase. Doubt we'd add someone with such character concerns to the good vibes team they've been trying to continue assembling.

The team vibes will sweep him up in a wave of male friendship and camaraderie he’s never experienced before, and it’ll help him take his game to the next level

 

 

 

[Laika]

Every solid group of super friends needs one or two *******s 

[BTS]

1 hour ago, glory said:

Yeah Passan in his latest article listed the players available via free agency over the next two years, and it’s pretty underwhelming.

“Neither of the next two free agent classes features a hitter as attractive as Tucker, Bichette or Bellinger. The best of next winter: Nico Hoerner, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brandon Lowe, Daulton Varsho, Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki, Trent Grisham, Ha-Seong Kim, J.P. Crawford and Gleyber Torres. The top following the 2027 season: Jeremy Pena, William Contreras, Steven Kwan, Adley Rutschman, Isaac Paredes, Munetaka Murakami, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddie Freeman, who will be 38.”

Rogers appears willing to shoot through the Cohen Tax, and there’s a clear window in 2026 when other teams are not spending, so go for it. As long as the deal is closer to 7 years than 10+.

I know you guys are talking about bats, as it relates to Tucker. But at least next year's FA SP pool looks deep: Skubal, Peralta, Sale, Wodruff, Pivetta, Luzardo, Gausman, Imanaga, King, Imai, Bubic, Bieber is one of the deepest SP pools in awhile 

[glory]

We are in the "tracking Ohtani's flight path" portion of the off season, as apparently Myles Straw posted an IG story with a photo of a personally signed Tucker jersey on it with a caption saying "anyone in Bradenton/Sarasota area know a place to get jerseys framed?", and then promptly deleted it. Obviously Jays fans aren't reading much into it on social media. 

[Terminator]

3 minutes ago, glory said:

We are in the "tracking Ohtani's flight path" portion of the off season, as apparently Myles Straw posted an IG story with a photo of a personally signed Tucker jersey on it with a caption saying "anyone in Bradenton/Sarasota area know a place to get jerseys framed?", and then promptly deleted it. Obviously Jays fans aren't reading much into it on social media. 

[Carlos Danger]

5 minutes ago, glory said:

We are in the "tracking Ohtani's flight path" portion of the off season, as apparently Myles Straw posted an IG story with a photo of a personally signed Tucker jersey on it with a caption saying "anyone in Bradenton/Sarasota area know a place to get jerseys framed?", and then promptly deleted it. Obviously Jays fans aren't reading much into it on social media. 

The irony is that a Tucker signing probably means Straw is as good as gone from the Jays org. 

[L54]

1 hour ago, Carlos Danger said:

Carlos Danger approves this message.

We need Tucker or at least Bichette back. I have a sinking feeling, we might be disappointed....

I felt pretty confident in Tucker. That confidence is now waning…